Mount for eyepieces



Oct. 3o, 1945. G E, GUELUCH 2,388,051

MOUNT FOR EYEP I ECES Filed Feb. ll, 1943 INV E NTOR.

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Raiented Oct. 30, 1945 MOUNT FOR EYEPIECES Gustav E. Gueliich, Buffalo, N. Y., assigner, by

messie assignments, to

pany, Southbridge, tion American Optical Com- Masls., a voluntary associa- Application February 11, 1943, Serial No. 475,553

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for mounting lens systems and more particularly to new and improved means for mounting the optical elements of eyepieces and the like. An `object of the invention is to provide a new `and` improved mount for the optical elements of an eyepiecefor microscopes or other optical devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mount for supporting optical elements which 'is relatively simple and economical to manuiactureand eilicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide "a new and improved mount for a lens system which is easier to assemble and which is of the L self-aligning type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willV be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement ot parts shown and described as the preferred forms have been shown by way of illustration only.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an eyepiece embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Fig, 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a further form of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 but showing a still further modied form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the present drawing wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views the invention has been shown applied to an eyepiece particularly adapted for use in a microscope or the like, although this invention may be applied to other means for supporting the optical elements of a lens system adapted for other optical devices.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3

V the tubular body portion I of the mount may be formed of Bakelite or other suitable materials such as synthetic resin of the various types now commercially available and in the molding of said tubular portion I the metal insert 2 having the threaded outer portion 3 may be simultaneously molded in desired relation in said body portion I and also the diaphragm portion 4 may be formed integral therewith. It is pointed out that said insert 2 may be secured to said body I by means of screws or other suitable devices and also that said diaphragm portion l may be formed separately and secured to said body portion I by any suitable means.

The tubular body I is provided with the central aperture 5 and adjacent one end of said aperture 5 in said tubular member I is formed the groove or recess 6 adapted to form a seat for a lens elementjlland over the surface of said lens element 1 andf'adjacent the edge thereof is placed a spacing ring 8 which ring supports the lens member 9 and said lens members 'IA and 9 and spacing ring 8 are retained in said position by means of the cap member II! which has a central aperture II adapted to be aligned with the lens members i and 9 to allow viewing therethrough and said cap member I0 also has the threaded portion adapted to engage the threaded portion 3l on the member 2 to retain said cap in position on said body I and to retain said lens members i and 9 and spacing ring 8 in position as described above.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the retaining ring 8 is a free fioating member and rests only upon the outeredges of the lens member` 9 and that `because of the construction of the mount which is of the self-centering type said lens members are automatically centered upon the assem.- bling of the elements as described above.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 there is provided a body portion I3 which may be formed of metal or the like and which is provided with the diaphragm portion I l which may be formed integral with the portion I3 or formed separately and secured thereto,

The body portion I3 is provided with the flange portion I5 adapted to form a seat or support for the lens element 1 which has its outer portion seated in the annular groove or slot II in the upper space of said flange portion I5 and surrounding the central-aperture in said flange portion I5. In this form of the invention the spacing ring Il is positioned over the outer portions of the upper surface of the lens member 1 and over said spacing ring I1 is positioned the lens member Il and said members are retained in said position by means of the cap member I9 having the central aperture 2n and the threaded portion 2i adapted to engage the threaded portion 22 adjacent the upper edge of the body I3 to retain said cap I9 on said body I 3 and thereby retain said parts in aligned relation.

In the form .of the invention shown in Fig. 5

the body 23 may be formed. of fmetal as described in connection with the form shown in Fig. 4 or may be formed. of a plastic or a synthetic resin with or without metal inserts as described in conjunction with the form shown in Fig. 3. y

This form is generally similar to the forms shown in Fig. 3 except that the cap member 24 is provided with the portion 25 having an external threaded portion and adapted to engage a threaded portion 26 in'a slot in the upper surface of the body 23 and the threaded portion 26 may be formed if desired in a metal insert secured to the body 23 if said .body 23 is of a plastic or the like.

In this form the diaphragm ,zimay be famed` integral with the body portion 23 formed sepa.- rately and secured thereto. The body portion 23 has the seat or groove 28 in the upperv surface thereof surrounding the central aperture in said body and adapted to receive the lens element 'I and over said element 'I is positioned the spacing ring I1 as previously `described and over` said I8 over which isA positioned the cap member 24 having the aperture29 therein.

It is pointed out that theconstruction shown and described contains a minimum number of trai aperture, a. lens element on said seat, a spacspacing ring I'l is positioned the lens member l parts thereby considerably simplifying the asf sembly of lens systems in such mounts and also `that because of the constructionv such mounts are self-aligning making necessary merely the assemblying of the lens elements in said mounts which automatically centers or aligns the same in'optical alignment.

This simplification and easeof assembly pro vides a construction which has many advantages over prior art construction and provides a simple, enicient and economical construction that may ing member on said lens element .adjacent the periphery thereof to support a second lens element in aligned relation with said first lens element, a separaterring member secured to the outer surface of said body portion and a cap member having a portion interengaging said sec ond lens element and a portion engaging with said separate ring to maintain said body portion and cap member in assembled relation.l

2. In a device of thecharacter described a tubular bodyff'portiom said `body portion being formed of a plastic material'anda separate metal element secured thereto" and having securing means, said body portion having an annular seat adjacent the central aperture thereof, an optical element on said seat in alignment with lsaid apex'- tura a spacing member on said lens element adjacent the periphery thereof and supporting a second lens element and a. cap member having a portion engaging said second lens element adjacent the periphery thereof and also having a portion having securing means to engage the securing means on said separate annular metal member to retain said members in assembled aligned relation.

GUSTAV E. GUELHCH. 

